The message below concerns a demonstration tomorrow in London. We are sending it to certain lists, because for people outside Britain it provides useful information about the level of racism and hostility to refugees and asylum seekers in this country. DHKC London Information Bureau ----------------------------------- NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST RACISM Called by the National Civil Rights Movement Assemble Saturday 14 October, 1pm, Embankment, London The National Civil Rights Movement was established one and a half years ago as the Macpherson Inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence was published. (Note: A black teenager in England murdered by racists who were not prosecuted because of racism in the British police). At that time we were told by the government that they were committed to stamping out racism, that there would be a root and branch reform of our institutions, indeed, that they were proud of their anti-racism. What is the situation, eighteen months on? The number of racist attacks has increased dramatically whether you follow the police's own statistics or reports from community monitoring organisations. An increasing percentage of these attacks are targeted against refugees and asylum seekers. The government's asylum legislation has led directly to the criminalisation of asylum seekers and widespread hostility towards them. In fact we know that at least 157 people have died since the murder of Stephen Lawrence, as a result of racism and xenophobic laws. Some have died attempting to seek asylum in the UK, risking their lives because of the government's clampdown on migration. Others have died in police stations, prisons, mental hospitals or on the streets. We need to build a national movement to end racism and defend asylum rights. We cannot afford to leave it to the politicians, chief inspectors and the flawed police complaint authorities. Only a grassroots mobilisation in support of asylum seekers, refugees and black family campaigns can deliver true justice. STOP RACIST KILLINGS. AGAINST RACIST LAWS End detention, deportation, vouchers and dispersal Support families fighting racism Full rights for asylum seekers and refugees BULD A NATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST RACISM Please pass on this message to friends, family and work colleagues. Apologies for cross-posting. For more information, including transport details from outside London, call the National Civil Rights Movement office on 020-8574 0818. Or write to: National Civil Rights Movement, 14 Featherstone Road, Southall, Middlesex UB2 5AA. Fax: 020-8813 9734. Web: <http://www.ncrm.org.uk>. For press information, please call 07957-240755. Supporting organisations: Action 58, Active Resistance to the Roots of War, Afghan Academy, Anti-Nazi League, Asian Dub Foundation, Ladislav Balaz, Black Networking Group, Narayan Bhattacharjee, Bradford Immigration and Asylum Support and Advice Network, Professor Lee Bridges, Brighton & Hove District Trades Council, Brighton & Hove UNISON, Brighton & Hove Unemployed Workers Centre, Bristol Defend Asylum-seekers Campaign, Saffron Burrows, Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, Campaign for Justice for Carl Egonu, Campaign to Close Campsfield, Chhokar Family Justice Campaign, Chinatown Monitoring Group, Christopher Alder Campaign, Chumbawamba, City of Plymouth UNISON, Committee of Refugees from Turkey, Committee to Defend Asylum-Seekers, Close Down Harmondsworth Campaign, December 18 Online Network for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers, Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council, Dover Residents Against Racism, Europe-Roma, European No-Border Network, Exeter Anti-Fascist Action, Exeter Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers, Exiled Writers' Ink, Farhan Mire Family Campaign, Federation of Iranian Refugees, Fight Racism Fight Imperialism, Free Satpal Campaign (London), Freedom and Justice for Samar and Jawad, Friends of Mumia in Devon, Gypsy Council for Education, Culture, Welfare and Civil Rights, Hackney Refugee and Migrant Support Group, Diane Hammill, Hillsborough Justice Campaign, Human Too, International Federation of Iraqi Refugees, Jewish Socialist Group, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Justice for the Plymouth Gypsies, Justice for Ricky Reel Campaign, Kalayaan, Kebele Kultur Project, James Kelman, Kent Refugee Action Network, Imran Khan, Kurdistan Information Centre, Liban Ali Family Campaign, Liberty National Council, Mike Mansfield, Michael Menson Family Campaign, Mubarek Family Campaign, National Civil Rights Movement, National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, Palestinian Right of Return Coalition UK, Gareth Peirce, Plymouth Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers, Plymouth Socialist Alliance, Plymouth Trades Union Council, Satpal Ram, A. Sivanandan, Southwark Day Centre for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees, Statewatch, The Monitoring Group, Torbay Anti-Racist Group, Frances Webber, Westminster Short Life Housing, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Worker Communist Party of Iran (UK), Benjamin Zephaniah.
